Cable



March 7, 1933.

C. P. BRODHUN CABLE Filed Sep. 20, 1928 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' CARL I. BRODHUN, 0F WIRES-BARRE, PENNSYLITANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE OKONITE COMPANY, 0F PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY CABLE Appueatien'mea september 2o, 1928. serial 1ro. 307,171.

This invention relates in general to cables and more particularly has reference to insulated electric cables.

Previous to this time, the cables of this characterhave generally been encased with metallic armorsuch as band steel sheathing, to protect the conductor against accidental mechanical injury and further wrapped with textile protective coverings to resist the deleterious etl'ects of the elements. They have also been encased in terra cotta, Wood and metal conduits or have been provided with additional protective sheathing of resilient fibrous or metallic material, or a combination of one or more of these.

It is well known that alternating current is impeded by the presence of a metal inthe magnetic eld of the conductor. This effect is so pronounced in the cables of this type heretofore employed that the are unsuitable for carrying loads approac ing the rated capacity.

In those instances where conduits have been employed to enclose the cables, the expense involved has been exceedingly great, due to both the cost of the conduits and the wages of skilled labor required to install them. lIhey have also been attended by certain disadvantages, in that, if a conduit is laid. through a crowded section, it is necessary to suspend activity while the roadway is torn up and repaved.

The cables installed without conduits have iven rise to certain difficulties vthat have never heretofore been surmounted. The generally accepted practice has been to encase the conductor and insulation previously applied, with a continuous sheath of lead or other metal and further enclose the whole with one or two layers of spirally wrapped band steel or other metal or metals, a sheath-l ing of fabric wound under and over the metallic wrapping for cushioning purposes.

This invention consists in general of the provision of an electric cable intended for subterranean use but adaptable as well for submarine and aerial installation, having a protective covering that will effectively resist the deleterious effects of weathering and protect the insulated electrical conductor for mechanical injury.

It further consists in the provision of an electric cable dispensing with the customary metallic protective sheathing and windings without losing its ability to withstand natural or mechanical injury.

An object of this invention is to provide an electric cable havingan outer protective covering that will eectively resist weathering.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric cable having protective f sheathing that will effectively resist mechanical injury.

Yet another object of this invention'is to provide an electric cable having pliant and flexible outer protective coverings.

Stillranother object of this invention is to provide an electric cable having outer protective covering that may be easily repaired.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electric cable with protective covering which has no impedance eect on the circuit in which the conductor is located.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electric cable dispensing with the customary metallic sheathing without seriously impairing its ability to withstand natural and mechanical injuries.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an electric cable dispensing with the customary metallic sheathing having an outer covering that will effectively resist the deleterious effects of weathering.

With these and other objects in View which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprisingany invention, may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawing means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the .this invention;

Figure 2 is a top View taken on line 2- of Figure 1 Figure 3 is an elevational view showingj a modification of the cable shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing another modification of the cable shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top view taken on line of Fi ure 4.

Re erring by numerals to the drawing*` wherein the same and similar elements .are designated by like symbols of reference throughout, and more particularly to Figurel 1, 1 is illustrative of' an electric conductor;A composed of any suitable highly conductivei* powdered chalk, soap stone or other similar @substance to prevent adhesion when it is "-wound on a wheel. Y

This covering of jute is designed to lend pliancy.

or tape 3 impregnated with any suitable mois-z i ture resisting material is spirally wrapped.

material such as copper. The conductoris encased in an insulation 2 composed of'ru'bber, paper, cambric, or any other commonly used insulating material which it maybedesired to employ. A sheath of braided material around the insulation 2.

is desired to dispense with the element 3. The jute layer is preferably thoroughly wa-v terproofed with a saturation of asphaltum compound, parain or any other suitable subl stance, and is adapted to afford protection to the insulation 2. y A plurality of layers of non-metallic protective strips 5 and 6 are helically wound.

around the jute layer 4 in crisscross relation,

adapted to lend protection to the conductor.l

The use of this type of protective covering in the place of the metallic bands heretofore used, is adapted to reduce .the weight as well Yas the cost, and remove the likelihood of current losses, without materially affecting the cables ability to withstand mechanical or natural injur It must be borne in mind that the strips 5 and 6 must be made of material suilciently strong to protect the conductor from injury such as the glancing blow of a pick or other tool used in connection with positioning the cable. I prefer to form the layers of strips "of any suitable rubber compound. This compound may consist of any compound made up .in proportions to fit the particular requirements in which the principal ingredient is crude rubber combined with mineral or organic fillers, according to the'particular needs and of the proper degree or' liexibility obtained by the proper proportion of theingredients and temperature and duration vulcanization period. 'A composition of this character aords a pliable structure which is non-inductive and non-magnetic, yet of` such hardness and toughness to serve the purpose ofv protecting the conductor asv previously stated. A compound of this character applied to the metal in the form of a band or.

tape as previously described is therefore suf' ciently pliable to allow bending and hard enough to provide an adequate armor for the cable.

V referred to as semi-hard rubber compounds.

A layer of jute cord 7 is adapted to be heli.-

. The rubber compound used should be of sufficient hardness to lend the maximum pro-v A tection without being so'hard as to have the undesirable properties of brittleness. Comcally wound over the windings 5 and 6 after being first thoroughly' saturated with any otherlsuitable material to insure moisture- :proof fiber.

f `The completed cable may be treated with The covering previously described may be applied through a plurality of conductors 1 p 1 and 1 as shown in Figure 3 having an insulat- A jute cord-4 is helically wound around the tape or braid 3 or the insulation 2 if iting sheath 2 and 2 similar to the sheath 2,

wrapped with tape or fabric 3' and 3.

If it is so desired a metallic sheath 8 may be encased around the tape o'r braid 3 as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

4 There is accomplished by this invention an improved electric cable adaptable to submarine and aerial use as well as a ground parent that many changes and variations may v be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. An electric cable comprising a conductor, a layer of rubber compound around the conductor, a layer of fabric strips around the layer of rubber compound,-` a layer of jute cord around the layer of fabric strips and a protective layer of rubber wound in strip form aroundA the la er of jute cord.

2. An electric ca le comprising a plurality of conductors, a layer of rubber compound around the conductors, a layer of fabric strips around the layer of rubber compound, a layer of 'ute cord around the layer of fabric strips and a protective layer of rubber Wound in strip form around the layer of jute cord.

3. An electric cable comprising a plurality of conductors, a layer of rubber compound around the conductors, a layer of fabric strips around the layer of rubber compound, a layer of jute cord around the layer of fabric strips, and a protective layer of semi-hard rubber compound applied in strip form over the layer of jute cord.

4. An electric cable comprising a plurality of conductors, a layer of rubber compound around the conductors, a layer of fabric strips around the' layer of rubber compound, a layer of jute cord around the layer of fabric strips, a protective layer of semi-hard rubber compound applied in strip form around the layer of jute cord, and a second layer of jute cord around the layer of semi-hard rubber compound.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CARL P. BRODHUN. 

